Best Place to Get Close to Nature Without Getting Poison Ivy

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center

There are plenty of reasons to love the great outdoors: fresh air, foliage, critters running around everywhere. But there are just as many reasons to hate it: no Wi-Fi, bug bites, rashes caused by leafy green things. The Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is as close to nature as you can get without actually being outside. Hissing insects, slithering snakes, and slow-moving tortoises hang out in aquariums — and occasionally in the hallways. And don't worry, purists: You can always step outside to experience nature in its natural setting, with bigger, badder creatures and a walking trail covered with leafy green things that may or may not make you itch.